Smoked Paprika Roasted Asparagus Recipe

Only 5 ingredients needed for this delicious and healthy Smoked Paprika Roasted Asparagus side dish recipe! It’s a great vegan option for springtime.

In previous years, my husband and I were the only ones in our family to get excited about the appearance of asparagus at the markets. The 15-year old finally joined Team Asparagus this year, which means we feel justified in serving it roasted, grilled and tucked inside of crustless quiches a few times each week even if the 12-year old isn’t on board yet.

Asparagus needs little more than a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper to turn it into a fantastic side dish, but this smoked paprika roasted asparagus takes things one step further with a pinch of one of my favorite spices.

When choosing asparagus, look for spears that are firm rather than limp and have tightly closed tips. The thickness of the spears doesn’t indicate a difference in taste or freshness. Rather, it simply a reveals the maturity of the vegetable, with thicker stalks being more mature than thinner ones. Prepare them in the same manner, increasing the cooking time for thicker stalks.

While smoked paprika is a fantastic option for grilled or roasted asparagus, here are some of our other favorite flavor combinations:

drizzled with a Dijon vinaigrette

curry powder, salt and pepper

cumin, chili powder and paprika

lemon and fresh dill

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I’ll be sure to find it.